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Welcome to our newsletter for autumn 2025. We hope you’re keeping cosy and enjoying the crisp days and crunchy leaves. Remember, Easy Read Online can help if you need: Easy Read translations. Plain English translations. Original documents to be made compliant with web accessibility standards. Easy Read documents that you’d like to be checked by people with lived experience. Other accessibility features or formats. Get in touch today using our quote form: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/get-a-quote Updating your Easy Read document Does the Easy Read document we previously created for you need to be updated? For instance, yearly strategies that have minor changes. If you have previously commissioned us to produce an Easy Read document for you, we are able to update the document instead of creating the whole document from scratch. This could save your organisation time and budget. Contact us to find out more: quotes@easy-read-online.co.uk Easy Read Online training day We had another successful team training day in October. The team met in Liverpool, where we had training and discussions on various topics, including emerging national standards for the production of Easy Read. The team was interested to hear about the progress of creating the standards and how these could help to regulate Easy Read production across the country. More news about that soon! We also worked on creating a more efficient and joined-up service for clients and heard from members of our team about working and living with ADHD. It was a very interesting day and a great chance to catch up as a team too! Bringing Easy Read to Timor-Leste (East Timor) We are very proud to be working with an organisation in Timor-Leste (East Timor) on creating their first Easy Read document. It will be the first Easy Read document created for people in Timor-Leste! Our illustrator has been working on creating bespoke illustrations for the context of Timor-Leste, which we always aim to do when creating Easy Read documents for specific regions. We are honoured to work with several international organisations, including major players like the UN, to create high-quality Easy Reads for an international audience. Our 4 day week trial is a success As some of our clients will know, we have been trialling a 4 day week for the past year. We are very pleased to say that the trial was a big success both for our employee wellbeing and the efficiency of the company as a whole. We have been able to maintain the same high-quality service for clients and turnaround times have remained consistent with our pre-trial work. Easy Read Online will permanently move to be a 4 day week company. You can read more about this here: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/post/4-day-week-trial

In November 2024, Easy Read Online joined the 4 day week campaign’s  national pilot. After a successful 12-month trial, we’ve decided to make the 4 day week a permanent part of how we work from October 2025. What we found from our year-long trial is that we can maintain productivity and turnaround times for clients, while boosting staff wellbeing. The 4 day week has been shown to be a positive move for business  in several ways, including retention of staff, reduction of sickness days, and an increase in innovation. The concept of a 4 day week is that employees work for 80% of their contracted time, while continuing to be 100% as productive and keeping 100% of their pay. One of our staff members said: “The move to the 4 day week has meant I have more time to see family and develop my other interests. This has improved my mental health and wellbeing. I start the new working week fully refreshed and focused.” Before the trial, we collectively thought about how we could make this change at Easy Read Online while maintaining the full and consistent service that our clients are used to. We continue to innovate and develop our processes to become more efficient and productive. We have found that a more well-rested and happy workforce works to create even higher standards of Easy Read content for our clients! For our clients, the high-quality and speedy service they are used to will continue. If you are considering converting information into Easy Read, why not ask us for a competitive quote here: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/get-a-quote

Our calendars are full of awareness days, weeks and campaigns that highlight important issues and encourage people to think differently. For disabled people, including those with learning disabilities, these campaigns are a chance to make sure their voices are heard and that information is accessible to everyone. What is “Awareness”? Awareness is about helping people understand things they may not have experienced themselves. It means talking openly, challenging assumptions, and encouraging others to listen and learn. For people who face barriers, such as those with learning disabilities, awareness helps build understanding, empathy and inclusion. It also reminds us that information should be clear and accessible to everyone. Raising awareness makes it easier for people to be informed, make choices and feel part of society. Using Easy Read  is one practical and effective way to do this, ensuring that everyone can take part in conversations and decisions that affect their lives. How can people raise awareness? Awareness campaigns offer a platform to shine a light on something important, whether that’s a health issue, social concern, ethical topic or environmental cause. These campaigns usually take place on a specific day, week or month and are designed to educate the public and inspire action. By joining in, organisations can help amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. Simple steps such as sharing resources, hosting events, or creating accessible materials (including Easy Read  versions) can make a big difference. Why awareness campaigns matter Awareness campaigns help draw attention to people and issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. They: Highlight  topics that are invisible or misunderstood, such as accessibility or communication barriers. Encourage conversation , bringing these subjects into schools, workplaces and the media. Inspire action , prompting organisations to review their own practices, develop accessible materials, and commit to meaningful change. Provide resources , such as toolkits or guidelines, often including Easy Read versions, that make participation easier for everyone. Empower communities , giving those most affected the opportunity to share their stories and shape how they are represented. Why awareness is vital for the disabled community For people with disabilities, particularly those who need support with communication, comprehension or processing, awareness isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Without broad public awareness: Information and services are often shared in formats that are inaccessible to people with learning disabilities or cognitive differences. Exclusion becomes normalised, and people are left out of key conversations and decisions. Barriers build up across areas like health, social care, employment, and access to rights and services. When awareness campaigns include a focus on accessible communication, such as Easy Read , they send a clear message: Everyone deserves to understand and everyone deserves to be included. By making accessibility part of awareness, we can ensure that inclusion is not just talked about, but put into practice. How we can help At Easy Read Online , we create Easy Read  materials that make information clear, accessible and inclusive. Whether you’re planning an awareness day, developing campaign resources, or improving your everyday communications, Easy Read  can help ensure everyone can take part and feel represented. Get in touch to find out how we can support your next awareness campaign and help you make inclusion part of every message. Directory and resources Please find a (non-exhaustive) directory of UK and international awareness days related to disability, particularly learning disability, to help you plan your next campaign and get involved. March Neurodiversity Celebration Week Disabled Access Day May Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) June Learning Disability Week July Disability Awareness Day (UK) September International Day of Sign Languages National Inclusion Week October National Disability Employment Awareness Month (UK) Dyslexia Awareness Week November Purple Tuesday, UK day focused on improving accessibility in retail https://purpletuesday.co UK Disability History Month https://ukdhm.org December 3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

ADHD awareness and mythbusting Over the past few years, ADHD awareness has skyrocketed. More people are being diagnosed with this condition than ever before, including many women and girls who were previously overlooked. In 2022, I became part of this statistic. After years of attempting to squeeze myself into a neurotypical mould, I was diagnosed and finally had an explanation for why my brain worked the way it did. But while there is more ADHD awareness now than when I grew up in the noughties, awareness doesn’t always equal understanding. There are still lots of misconceptions about the condition, which can make it harder for people with ADHD to get the support they need. Myth 1: “Everyone is a bit ADHD” ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Symptoms include struggling with focus (inattention), acting without thinking (impulsivity), and hyperactivity. Almost everyone has struggled with 1 of these issues at some point in their lives - especially in childhood! But that doesn’t mean everyone has ADHD. For people with ADHD, these symptoms are ever-present and long-term, seeping into all aspects of our lives. This can make it difficult to function in a world that’s built for neurotypical minds. There are lots of useful online resources available if you want to learn a bit more about ADHD and how it can affect people. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend checking out this ADHD overview video  from popular YouTuber How to ADHD . The NHS website also has some great information about ADHD in children and young people , and ADHD in adults . Myth 2: “ADHD is a trend” I’ve never been much of a trend follower, so it makes me laugh when someone says that ADHD is a fad or just people jumping on a trend. I can understand why some people are sceptical. After all, the recent surge in ADHD diagnoses started happening at the same time as neurodivergence became a hot topic on social media. But it’s important to stress that people aren’t trying to collect disorders for fun. ADHD isn’t a Pokémon - it’s a disability that impacts people’s daily lives. When there is more awareness and acceptance of something, it makes sense that more people will come forward. In the past, children were routinely punished for writing with their left hands. But as attitudes changed, the number of left-handed people in the population grew. That’s not because kids were jumping on the bandwagon; they were just allowed to be themselves. It wasn’t until I heard other people with ADHD sharing their experiences that something finally clicked for me. All my struggles suddenly made sense. If the newfound ADHD awareness hadn’t happened, I might not have sought out a diagnosis. Myth 3: “ADHD affects boys more than girls” Until recently, ADHD wouldn’t cross anyone’s mind unless you were a stereotypical boy bouncing off the classroom walls. But while everyone is different, many girls with ADHD present as less hyperactive and more inattentive than their male classmates. Rather than acting recklessly or impulsively, they may be seen as forgetful, disorganised and prone to daydreaming or interrupting conversations. This means it hasn’t always been easy to recognise ADHD in girls. As a result, lots of us have flown under the radar and entered the wild world of adulthood without any insight into why we were struggling. Many boys also slipped through the cracks - especially if they didn’t fit that hyperactive mould. Myth 4: “People with ADHD are lazy” Let’s get this straight: laziness is not an ADHD trait. People with ADHD might be more likely to make “careless” mistakes or find it harder to motivate themselves - but in most cases, it’s not for lack of trying. When I struggled to study for my A-Levels, teachers thought I just lacked willpower. But getting myself to focus felt like trying to wade through treacle. None of the revision tips and tricks people suggested seemed to work, and the harder I tried, the more burnt out I got. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I finally discovered strategies that fit. Understanding my ADHD meant I could understand myself and accept that my brain is just wired a bit differently. Myth 5: “ADHD is all bad” While issues with focus and hyperactivity can have a profound effect on those with ADHD, there are some traits that I wouldn’t want to give up. I think a lot of my passion and energy comes from my ADHD, and the more invested I am in something, the easier it is to focus on it. I love writing, and accessibility has always been important to me, so a job creating Easy Read resources suits the way my mind works. I’m not the only person with ADHD at Easy Read Online, either. Our lovely designer, Danni, says her ADHD helps her create new illustrations quickly - which is extremely useful when she has a lot on her to-do list! All the people I know with ADHD are passionate, creative people who aren’t afraid to think outside the box. It can be challenging sometimes, but increased ADHD awareness means it’s easier to get the right support and understanding from other people. ADHD and Easy Read Instead of having large blocks of text for readers to tackle, Easy Read documents relay the most important information in a simple, concise way. So while Easy Read is designed for people with learning disabilities, the accessible format can also make life easier for many neurodivergent folks, including people with ADHD or dyslexia. If you’d like to make your information more accessible for everyone, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us  to find out more.

Whether you’re asking for public feedback on a proposal or sharing information with your audience, it’s important to include disabled people and make your work accessible. Inclusion and accessibility aren’t just “disability issues.” Disabled people are part of every community, and their voices should be heard on every issue. When we plan and design with accessibility in mind, it benefits everyone  - not just disabled people. Disabled people are part of every community Nearly 1 in 4 people in the UK  are disabled. This means every issue, whether about health, housing, transport, education, or local services, also affects disabled people. Disabled women deserve to have a say in women’s healthcare. Disabled carers should be able to access information about support in formats they can use. Disabled people in rural areas should be consulted about changes to public transport. At Easy Read Online, we’ve worked on resources and surveys across a wide range of topics, from transport and housing to healthcare guides. Disabled people’s input is always relevant. Understanding and overcoming barriers Disabled people often face more barriers than non-disabled people. That’s why their perspectives are vital in planning services, policies, and projects. By listening to disabled people, we discover solutions and ideas that others may not think of - making services stronger and more effective for everyone. Changes that help everyone When accessibility is built in for disabled people, others benefit too. For example, drop curbs on pavements help wheelchair users, but also parents with prams and travellers with suitcases. Easy Read resources help people with learning disabilities, but they also help anyone who wants access to important information in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Accessibility creates better, fairer systems for all of us. A fairer world Everyone deserves to have a say in the issues that affect their lives. By ensuring disabled people are included in decision-making and communication, we move closer to a fairer society that values everyone’s voice. What can you do now? If you want more disabled people to take part in your work, think about the different ways people need to communicate and access information: Use accessible formats like Easy Read, Large Print or Braille. Make sure websites and downloadable content meet web-accessibility guidelines, like WCAG . Add clear subtitles to videos. Provide sign language interpretation at public events. Offer information in other languages and/or Plain English. Give people options for contacting you, like email, phone, text, text-relay, or video call. Making your work inclusive is a team effort, and we’re here to help. By transforming your information into Easy Read, we can make it easier for people with learning disabilities to take part and have their say. Get in touch with our Easy Read Online team to find out more.

In 2019, the United Nations shared its Disability Inclusion Strategy. The strategy is a plan to make the United Nations inclusive and accessible to disabled people. The strategy is built on the idea that including disabled people is not optional but essential for making sure that all people get their human rights met. The United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy sets out organisation-wide goals for inclusion, from making sure disabled people are represented in leadership roles to checking that the information the United Nations writes is accessible to all. The United Nations checks how well its strategy is working every year to make sure that its inclusivity of disabled people is improving. This places responsibility directly on organisations and countries within the United Nations to incorporate disability inclusion across all their activities. Why the United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy needs to be accessible The United Nations shares its disability inclusion progress with the public every year in an annual report. But if the reports and progress updates are only available in long and hard documents, then a large number of disabled people are automatically excluded from understanding or engaging with them. That’s why Easy Read matters. Easy Read uses simple words, short sentences, and images to explain difficult ideas. It was designed so that people with learning disabilities can understand important information. But it’s not only for them – Easy Read benefits: People who speak English as a second language. People who have tiredness or exhaustion that affects the way they take in information. Anyone who prefers information in plain, visual formats. When the United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy annual reports are translated into Easy Read, it means: Disabled people can engage with a strategy that directly affects their rights. Disabled people can form their own opinions about progress, not just rely on someone else to interpret the report. Disabled people can hold organisations and countries within the United Nations to their commitments, because they have direct access to the plans that have been made. Disabled people can celebrate progress, but also demand more if inclusion is happening too slowly. The United Nations is bringing inclusion to life. It is fulfilling one of its promises to write information that is accessible to all. Our role in translating the United Nations’ Disability Inclusion Strategy annual reports into Easy Read Each year, Easy Read Online has been commissioned by the United Nations to translate the annual reports into Easy Read, and we involve people with learning disabilities in this process. We are honoured to do this because for us accessibility isn’t just a tick-box exercise, it’s about practising “nothing about us without us.” By making Easy Read versions available, we help the United Nations achieve the change it calls for. You can check out some of the Easy Read annual reports here: 2022 2023

A guide to commissioning and sharing Easy Read versions of your organisation’s information. What is accessible information? Accessible information means information that people can read, understand and use. This type of information is especially important for people who find it harder to read or understand standard information. This could be because of a disability, sensory loss, or another communication need. Some common types of accessible information, also known as accessible formats, are: Large print Braille Easy Read British Sign Language Audio recordings Most people have heard of these accessible formats, but Easy Read is not as well known. What is Easy Read? Easy Read turns complex information into something that is easier to understand. It uses: Short, simple sentences Clear, everyday words Pictures that help explain the text Easy Read is often used by people with a learning disability. But at Easy Read Online, we have found that many other people find it useful too. For example: People who speak English as a second language Neurodivergent, like autistic people People with low literacy Older people with memory problems The general public, especially when information is complex or full of jargon Easy Read can help make sure everyone understands the information that matters to them. Why should your organisation create accessible information? There are 3 important reasons: To include everyone.  People with learning disabilities have the right to understand information and be part of decisions that affect them. To close the information gap.  Without accessible information, some people are left out, confused, or misinformed. It’s the law.  The Equality Act 2010 says you must make reasonable adjustments to your services. This includes providing accessible information. If you don’t, it may count as discrimination. There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK, and 1 in 6 adults with low literacy. Many rely on public services every day, but often struggle to get the information they need. One of our clients told us that in a recent consultation, 11% of all responses came from people who used the Easy Read version. This included: People with learning disabilities People with English as a second language Neurodivergent people People with low literacy Older people with dementia General members of the public A huge number of service users would have been excluded if the organisation had not provided an Easy Read version. How can your organisation create Easy Read information? Some organisations try to make Easy Read documents themselves. But this can be hard because of: Not enough time  – deadlines can be tight. Busy staff  – staff may not have the time or skills to do it well. Lack of tools  – Easy Read often needs special images and software. No lived experience  – it’s best to work directly with people who have learning disabilities to make sure your Easy Read is clear and useful. Instead, you can hire a specialist Easy Read company. But how do you choose a good one? Here are some questions to ask: Do they work with people with learning disabilities to check the work? Can they produce different types of Easy Read materials? Can they show examples of their previous work? Do other organisations recommend them? Do they understand the needs and rights of people with learning disabilities? Are they active in the accessibility or inclusion community? How can you share your Easy Read documents? If you’ve taken the time to create an Easy Read version of your information, make sure people can find and use it! Here are some tips: Train your team Make sure all staff know what Easy Read is and where to find it. Staff should feel confident sharing Easy Read versions when asked. Use social media Announce when you’ve created an Easy Read document. If you worked with a specialist company, say so; it builds trust. Put it online clearly Add a link to the Easy Read version near the top of your web page. Use an Easy Read symbol to make it stand out, like this one! Include it in printed materials Put the Easy Read version next to the standard one. The more visible, the better. Tell people directly Contact local self-advocacy or learning disability groups. Email them a link to the Easy Read document, call them, or post a printed copy. Mention it in your main document At the front of your standard document, include a note like: “For an Easy Read version of this document, visit (link) or contact us on (phone/email).” How can Easy Read Online help? We are a team that specialises in making Easy Read information. We have created 1000s of Easy Read documents for councils, charities, the NHS, government departments, housing associations, arts and culture services, international organisations, and more. We can produce Easy Read in many formats: PDFs (print-ready and accessible versions) Interactive documents with fillable fields and tick boxes Word documents Audio or video Printed booklets Text-only and image-only versions for websites or online surveys PowerPoint presentations Translations into other languages We work closely with people with learning disabilities. For example, our local Mencap group checks many of our documents and gives feedback, helping us improve. We also offer a checking service . If you’ve made your own Easy Read document, we can review it and help you make it clearer and more accessible. To learn more about our services click here . Sources NHS England. Accessible Information: Implementation plan. 2015. https://www . england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ access-info-imp-plan.pdf Mencap. How common is learning disability in the UK? 2025. https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/research-and-statistics/how-common-learning-disability Department of Health. Making written information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities. 2010. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20130812104657/http:/odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/iod/easy-read-guidance.pdf Disability Justice Project. Accessible information and communication discrimination guide. 2025. https://www.disabilityjustice.org.uk/learn-more-and-take-action/accessible-information-and-communication-discrimination-guide/#law

Easy Read is about making information clear and accessible for as many people as possible. To do that, we need to understand how people’s experiences shape how they see the world, and how the world sees them. That’s where intersectionality comes in. It helps us think about the different identities a person might have, and how those identities affect their needs, experiences, and how they’re represented. In this blog, we’ll explore intersectionality and how it helps us to create more inclusive and effective Easy Read documents. What is intersectionality? Intersectionality is about how the different parts of a person’s identity work together to shape their experiences. Things like your gender, race, sexuality, religion, disability and income can affect you in different ways. Intersectionality recognises that every person has a unique identity that affects how they live and understand the world. For example, a disabled woman from a wealthy family may face ableism and sexism at the same time. Because of this, she may experience the world in a different way from non-disabled women or disabled men. Meanwhile, her wealth won’t cancel out her other identities, but it would likely make it easier to deal with the extra costs of being disabled. Intersectionality in Easy Read Intersectionality and images The main purpose of images in Easy Read is to help people understand the text better. These images often include people in different poses and situations, from giving the thumbs up to playing a musical instrument. This means we also have a great opportunity to show people from all walks of life. Most Easy Read users are people with learning disabilities, so we always make sure that this demographic is well represented in our work. However, it’s not enough to stop there. When we’re creating Easy Read documents, we think about the people who might read them, and how to represent those people. Some readers may have more than one disability, or their disability may be invisible. Disabled people exist in every community, so it’s important to show people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. We also think about what the document is about. If we need to create a report about people in Nepal, we’ll focus on using images of Nepalese people where possible. If we’re doing an Easy Read guide for elderly people, we’ll veer away from images of children or younger adults. Asking these questions and thinking about intersectionality helps us to create accessible documents that showcase diversity. Intersectionality and language As Easy Read writers, it’s our job to use the right language for difficult topics without overloading the reader with too much information. However, the language around intersectionality and identity can be hard to simplify. If one of our writers is struggling to write a definition for a word in a document, or we think a definition needs updating, we’ll ask other team members for advice. Listening to different perspectives and ideas can help us represent ideas and identities in a better way. The way we talk about issues and identities is always evolving, so the way we write about them in Easy Read documents has to evolve along with them. This is where listening to experts comes in handy! We often work with people from different organisations, services and charities that specialise in supporting disabled people, as well as Easy Read experts from our local MenCap group. Listening to their ideas can help us understand what works well and what we need to tweak. Examples of our work If you want a better idea of the work we’ve done in the past, you can check out our projects page . Or if you want to take a closer look at our illustrations, our Instagram page has some examples of how we represent people from different backgrounds in our images.

Easy Read is an accessible format designed to make information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities, and others who have difficulty using standard versions of information. Easy Read documents present information using a combination of simple language in short sentences, clear layout, and pictures that help to convey the meaning of the text. When information is easier to understand, people are empowered to take more control over their own lives. When people are provided with clear and accessible information, they can: Take part and feel included in the world round them. Make informed decisions. Understand their rights. Have an impact on issues that affect themselves and society as a whole. Develop their knowledge and discover new opportunities. Whilst Easy Read does not guarantee comprehension (some people will still need support to understand Easy Read information, or require a different format, like video or audio) - Easy Read does provide a valuable method for breaking down difficult information and making it more inclusive and accessible. What does the law say about Easy Read? There are laws relating to Easy Read, which indicate people’s right to accessible information and organisations' obligation to provide accessible information. The Equality Act 2010 requires organisations to make reasonable adjustments - these are small changes that enable disabled people to access services like everyone else. This includes making Easy Read versions of information avaialble to people with learning disabilities. The Accessible Information Standard requires all health and care services to provide accessible communications for service users. This includes making Easy Read versions of health and care documents available so that people with learning disabilities can access important information. Other legislation is tied into the United Nations work to make the whole world more inclusive for disabled people. Countries that are part of the United Nations, including the United Kingdom, have made a promise to reduce the barriers that stop disabled people from taking part. This commitment includes making information more accessible for disabled people, like providing Easy Read documents for people with learning disabilities. What are the guidelines for Easy Read information? Easy Read should always be produced with the end user in mind. Some Easy Read information is intended for a particular individual, or group, and should be tailored to suit their needs. Where Easy Read information is intended for a wider user group, it should include clear context regarding the source and purpose of the information. The objective of an Easy Read document is to convey key information as clearly and concisely as possible. Easy Read documents that present a literal translation of an entire piece of original information, like for like, can become very long and overbearing. There are some stylistic differences in the appearance of Easy Read information, but generally all Easy Read documents should incorporate the following: Simple language No jargon, difficult words & phrases, or idioms. If any difficult words are used, they should be explained. Acronyms should be written out in full unless they are very common (e.g. NHS). Short sentences Sentences should have a maximum of 15 words ideally. Each sentence should convey one idea. Longer sentences should be broken down using bullet points. Clear layout Pages of Easy Read should have plenty of white space so they’re not too busy. Headings and subheadings should be used to help to make the information easier to follow. Colours should have good contrast (e.g. no light coloured text on a light background; or dark on dark). Text should be written in a sans serif font, like Arial, and in a large font size (minimum 16pt). Pictures Images should capture the essence of each sentence, to help convey the meaning of the words. Photos or drawings can be used, although cartoon-like images are best avoided if the information is intended for adults. Imagery should be disability-positive and represent diversity. How can Easy Read help organisations to be more inclusive and accessible? There are various ways that organisations can adopt Easy Read to make their services more inclusive and accessible for everyone. For example: Health and care organisations can provide Easy Read information to improve people's health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. Regional councils and local authorities can use Easy Read information to meaningfully engage with their local communities, so that people can access services where they live. Government departments and organisations can use Easy Read materials to increase opportunities for everyone, in all parts of the country. Public services can use Easy Read as a way to communicate more effectively with their service users, so that they can speak up and help to make services better for everyone. International bodies can utilise Easy Read in their work to ensure no one is left behind. Charities, voluntary and support groups can use Easy Read to raise awareness of the important work they’re doing. Arts and culture organisations can produce Easy Read information to connect marginalised groups with creative opportunities and enrich more people’s lives. Who produces Easy Read information and how is it provided? Anyone can produce Easy Read information - individuals, small or large organisations, and specialist providers - like Easy Read Online. There is various training and guidance available to get started. But it’s important to get Easy Read right, so that it serves the people who are using it. That takes time and practice, and ideally the people creating the Easy Read will have experience of working with people with learning disabilities. It is always worth considering a specialist Easy Read provider, because they will have the right expertise and experience, plus access to practical resources like Easy Read images and design software. Either way, Easy Read should be produced with the end user in mind and people with learning disabilities should be involved in the process where possible. Easy Read information should be provided with the option to print out a physical copy, or to view a copy online that is compliant with accessibility regulations and compatible with screen-reader software.

Welcome to our July newsletter. We hope you’ve been enjoying the sun! Remember, Easy Read Online can help if you need: Easy Read translations. Plain English translations. Original documents to be made compliant with web accessibility standards. Easy Read documents that you’d like to be checked by people with lived experience. Other accessibility features or formats. Get in touch today using our quote form: Feedback from clients We always welcome feedback from clients on our service. Here are some comments we’ve received in the last month: Disability Pride July has been Disability Pride Month. Disability Pride Month is an important moment for disabled people to come together as a community. An opportunity to share experiences and start conversations. It’s a celebration of the creativity, resilience, and achievements of disabled people. As part of Disability Pride Month, one of our team, Becky, has written a blog about how organisations can become more accessible. You can read it here: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/post/how-to-make-your-organisation-accessible We also created a list of questions for organisations to ask internally, and help them to assess their practices: Best wishes, The Easy Read Online team

While many organisations use Disability Pride Month to focus on raising awareness, it’s also important to reflect on how to make your organisation more accessible. Accessibility is about giving equal opportunities to people with a disability or health condition. When workplaces and services are accessible, it’s easier for people with a health condition or disability to take part in society and live good lives. Keep reading to find out how you can prioritise accessibility in your organisation. 1. Adopt accessible hiring practices When it comes to accessibility in the workplace, it’s best to focus on it from the start. Accessible hiring practices can help level the playing field for people with health conditions and disabilities, as well as people who need to juggle things like childcare. You could make the hiring process more accessible by: Giving clear instructions about how to apply and providing information in accessible formats like Large Print or Easy Read. Sharing what the recruitment process will look like. For example, how many rounds of interviews there will be and when they will take place. Offering a range of interview dates and times for people to choose from. Using the job description to outline what kind of reasonable adjustments your organisation could make to help people apply or attend interviews. Offering support with filling out the application for people who need it. Many people - disabled or otherwise - will be looking for an employer that cares about their needs. So making your hiring practices more accessible isn’t just the right thing to do: it can also make it easier to attract the best people for the job! 2. Make reasonable adjustments Reasonable adjustments are changes that your organisation can make to help disabled people take part like everyone else. Many people can benefit from reasonable adjustments, including employees, clients, service users and anyone else you interact with. Examples of reasonable adjustments could be: Flexible working arrangements. For example, allowing employees to work from home or adjust their working times to accommodate their needs. Holding in-person meetings and events in accessible venues. This could include making sure there is nearby parking and ramps for wheelchairs. Providing noise-cancelling headphones or quiet spaces where people can do their work away from the hubbub of the office. (As a person with ADHD, this can be game-changing!) Paying for assistive technology like speech-to-text apps or mobility aids. You can find out more about reasonable adjustments on the government website . 3. Share accessible information Sharing information isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s important to provide information in different accessible formats, especially if your organisation employs or works with disabled people. Accessible formats can include: Braille. Easy Read. Audio. Large print. Web-accessible documents that are compatible with speech-to-text software. For some more tips on the best way to share accessible formats, check out our recent blog post  about making your information more accessible. 4. Educate yourself and others Leaders should take the time to learn about different disabilities and the kinds of reasonable adjustments people might need. Doing your research makes it easier to build accessibility and inclusivity into your organisation. It’s not just decision-makers who should learn about accessibility. Sharing information with staff members and volunteers can mean they feel more confident about making reasonable adjustments for the people they work with and support. There are countless training courses, articles, books, podcasts and videos that can help you educate yourself and others about disabilities and accessibility. Disability charities like Mencap , Mind  and Scope  have lots of information co-created by people with disabilities and health conditions, making them a great place to start. 5. Work with people with disabilities Who knows more about accessibility than the people who need it the most? Working with disabled people is key to making your organisation more accessible. You can work with disabled people in lots of ways, like by: Listening to individuals and taking their lead when it comes to what reasonable adjustments they might need. Making sure that disabled employees have the opportunity to help shape policies that affect them. Creating surveys to find out what your disabled service users think about a new service you want to provide. At Easy Read Online, we work closely with independent groups of people with learning disabilities, like our local Mencap group. Their members routinely check our Easy Read documents, and their feedback helps us with the quality of all our work. But remember - you should always be conscious of how much you’re asking of people. For example, if a disabled employee agrees to help produce a policy, make sure that their involvement doesn’t result in an unmanageable workload! We create all kinds of accessible resources, from surveys and consultations to safeguarding policies and job application forms! Click here to Get a quote for your Easy Read document today to find out how we can help make your organisation more accessible.

In this blog post, we will focus on the link between disability pride and accessible information. Every July, Disability Pride Month celebrates the history and achievements of disabled people, while also challenging the different types of ableism that disabled people face. Like most pride movements, an important part of Disability Pride Month is empowerment - because being proud, confident and heard is very difficult if you are not empowered. A key aspect of empowerment is equal access, which means making sure disabled people can access all the same things as non-disabled people can, including information. What is empowerment? Empowerment is about having the freedom and power to control what happens to you and make decisions for yourself. It is about being able to live the life you want to live and have your rights respected wherever you go. Accessible information like Easy Read resources can help disabled people feel empowered. When a disabled person is empowered, they are: Heard, respected and believed by the people, organisations and services around them. Able to make their own decisions, or make their decisions with the help of someone they choose. Able to access the services they need without shame. Able to live the life they want and need. Confident and proud of who they are. When a disabled person is not empowered, it can look like: The person being spoken about, instead of spoken to. Decisions being made for them without being included in the decision-making process. Being excluded from opportunities because of inaccessible physical spaces, online spaces and information. Being denied the tools or support they need to be able to live their life. If a disabled person is not empowered, this can lead to many negatives, such as internalised ableism, loneliness and a lower quality of life. Empowerment and accessible information Accessible information is not just a tool for communication; it is also a way of empowering disabled people. When disabled people are able to access information and tools, they can achieve things that will make them feel empowered. For example: A disabled person could use an Easy Read information booklet about common illnesses to decide whether they would like to get a flu vaccination. A disabled person could fill in an Easy Read version of a council survey to have a say in what happens to their local park. A disabled person could use a large print version of a job application form to have the same chance at getting a job as a non-disabled person. As an organisation, you can help to empower disabled people by committing to accessibility and providing your information in accessible formats. This is a great way of communicating to your disabled service users, customers and employees: your presence matters, your voice matters . To learn more about providing accessible versions of your information, you can take a look at our website: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/ Or if you want to read more about the disability and accessibility sector, you can read some of our other blog posts: https://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/blog